Letter: End stigma of depression

During his lifetime, Robin Williams blessed us with amazing gifts of comedic and dramatic entertainment as well as a lifestyle of quietly demonstrating care for others. But it may be his death that will bring us a legacy of life-changing thoughtful attention.

We are reminded that depression and addiction are relatively common. Not talked about, but we need to get just as comfortable talking about them as we have become with breast cancer. No more shame or stigma with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or depression or addiction or schizophrenia or autism than with cancer or diabetes or heart disease.

In America last year over 39,000 people died last year from suicide; about one every 13 seconds. Yet we don't march in outrage or demand better treatment for the underlying causes. Are we up in arms that no available treatment was enough to relieve the pain of such a creative soul as n Williams?

How can we honor Williams? Take a step forward in understanding that physical and mental health are interrelated, consider taking a course in Mental Health First Aid (mhfamissouri.org), listen, take the time to really listen, to someone who is stressed, learn the number to the Suicide Hotline and post it (1-800-273-8255), talk with two others about depression, stigma, suicide. Perhaps a tribute to Williams can do for depression what Susan G. Komen has done for breast cancer.